Developing old Ilford Pan F

[MattKing]

Pelican cases are designed to transport equipment, not store it long term.

 

[Don_ih]

Pelicans, on the other hand, are designed to eat fish.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Pentax - depends on the specific foam as well as general condition. Foam breakdown accelerates with humidity and moisture. Most of these open-cell cutout foams are urethane based. It happens to urethane pack and tent coatings as well, over time. But those betray breakdown with a distinct urea (piss) odor, plus excess stickiness.

For long-standing transport case brands like Halliburton and Pelican, you can buy replacement foam if your old foam padding starts deteriorating. Or you could devise a different fashion of dividers and cushioning, including much lighter weight but less durable bubble wrap. But like Matt already pointed out, these are meant for transport, not long-term storage.

 

[Don_ih]

If you replace the foam with concrete, you can use the case for long term storage. Actually, you may have no choice.

 

[MattKing]

If you replace the foam with concrete, you can use the case for long term storage. Actually, you may have no choice.

Actually, baltic amber would be even better than concrete!

 

[tezzasmall]

This was FP-4+ after only a couple years stored in my camera pelican case in a controlled environment . . .

Can I say that I quite like this effect? I'm not sure I could wait a couple of years before developing the film though...

Terry S
UK

 

[DREW WILEY]

Amber is a bit expensive. I once saw a museum piece end table from the Luis XIV's palace, coated with many layers of pulverized amber dissolved in poppyseed oil, then "French-polished" like shellac, layer after layer. It was the most remarkable varnish I've even seen, and still free of any cracks or hazing. I did a little math, and figured out that if it had been made "today", the varnish would cost over $200,000 per gallon. That was 30 years ago, when coating ingredients were about a third the price of today.

 

[Ozark Wolverine]

To all the "Pelican Case" expert commentators here in this thread . . . . too many to reply to individually.

I used the term "Pelican Case" generically . . . it is actually an SKB case made for photography equipment. No foam that I can see . . .

 

[pentaxuser]

To all the "Pelican Case" expert commentators here in this thread . . . . too many to reply to individually.

I used the term "Pelican Case" generically . . . it is actually an SKB case made for photography equipment. No foam that I can see . . .

If no foam then no problem would be my conclusion based on what I have gleaned from the replies. However don't the dividers in the third picture contain foam or is the cushioning material composed of something different?

pentaxuser

 

[Ozark Wolverine]

However don't the dividers in the third picture contain foam or is the cushioning material composed of something different?

pentaxuser

No foam

 

[Don_ih]

don't the dividers in the third picture contain foam

No foam

Oh, that's foam in there. But it's a dense, more stable form.

The problematic foam is the stuff that's not fabric covered that turns to either dust or sticky scum.

 

[Ozark Wolverine]

Oh, that's foam in there. But it's a dense, more stable form.

The problematic foam is the stuff that's not fabric covered that turns to either dust or sticky scum.

Does not feel like foam . . . feels like a fabric, like felt . . .

 

[Ozark Wolverine]

If no foam then no problem would be my conclusion based on what I have gleaned from the replies. However don't the dividers in the third picture contain foam or is the cushioning material composed of something different?

pentaxuser

It does not feel like foam . . not squishy like foam at all . . . it feels like felt actually

 

[DREW WILEY]

I'm not familiar with the brand. Could be fabric over relatively thin closed-cell rubber foam (which is superior to open cell and less problematic).

 

[Don_ih]

Could be fabric over relatively thin closed-cell rubber foam

That's what it looks like.

feels like a fabric, like felt

But it could be thick felt - which would be even more stable.

It is, however, usually cheaper, faster, and easier for a manufacturer to use some kind of foam.

 

[Ozark Wolverine]

If you dig deep into the specs the dividers are a high density closed cell foam . . . FWIW I have some 1/4 inch High Density closed cell foam I used for another application that is about 30 yrs old, no signs of deterioration.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1342619-REG/skb_3i_2015_7dl_iseries_3i_2015_7_case_with.html/?ap=y&smp=y&store=420&smpm=ba_f2_lar&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21051345972&gbraid=0AAAAAD7yMh04BILq-8JLpRyXzW293Grjo&gclid=CjwKCAjwspPOBhB9EiwATFbi5KlJHyZ-uysNZWWAW7n25ZOM6aBQTM_76muk5DBV76dSXgqdG6F4JRoCgt4QAvD_BwE

 

[DREW WILEY]

Sounds good; a quality product, apparently. But my firewall won't let me access B&H details at the moment at all. Something going on with enhanced security (understandable). I've been dealing with them for orders over the phone, however, the last two weeks.

 

[pentaxuser]

So not all foam is detrimental to the film inside the camera inside a case or so it sounds like. Good news, Ozark Wolverine. Mind you it sounds as if that has been your conclusion for a while anyway

Sometimes responses and final outcome to threads remind me of an old song by a Music Hall comedian called Stanley Holloway
The song is called " My Word! You Do Look Queer" and I have attached it below. NB Queer in this song does not mean gay. It's more akin to worryingly ill or in a general bad state of health



It makes me chuckle anyway

pentaxuser

 

[Ozark Wolverine]

So not all foam is detrimental to the film inside the camera inside a case or so it sounds like. Good news, Ozark Wolverine. Mind you it sounds as if that has been your conclusion for a while anyway

Sometimes responses and final outcome to threads remind me of an old song by a Music Hall comedian called Stanley Holloway
The song is called " My Word! You Do Look Queer" and I have attached it below. NB Queer in this song does not mean gay. It's more akin to worryingly ill or in a general bad state of health



It makes me chuckle anyway

pentaxuser

That song is definitely appropriate! My Father was a Canadian my mother a Newfie and I spent my teenage years in Ontario . . . watching the BBC . . . Benny Hill etc. etc. so I understand/appreciate Brit humour ( ) . . . Big Monty Python fan also . . . but that came later.